Gate.



E. STEBBI NGS.

GATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1909.

61,551 fPatentedJune 14, 1910.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR 5%.5 ZMQ'EIYC 670278923196 NTURIVE Y8 ANDREW B.GRAHAM m. PHOTD-LITKOGRAPNERS wnsmnsmu. D46

BYWrO TED STATE PATENT @FFTQE.

EUGENE STEBBINGS, 0F MACQN, MISSOURI.

GATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE STEBBINGS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Macon, in the county of Macon and State of Missouri,have invented a new and Improved Gate, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to gates, such, for instance, as are used uponfarms and in connection with ordinary roadways, my more particularpurpose being to produce a type of gate having certain constructionaladvantages and adapted when raised by hand into different positions tomaintain said position until afterward disturbed.

More particularly stated, my invention comprehends an improvedconstruction whereby an operator may lift the outer or free end of thegate to any desired height within reasonable limits, and upon releasingthe gate the latter will stand as thus placed, yet free to swing uponits hinges or pivots; and by merely moving a hand lever carried by thegate the latter may be lowered into its normal position so that it restsupon the ground.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved gate complete; Fig. 2 is anelevation show ing the outer or free end of the gate as raised, and alsoshowing the gate as automatically retaining this position; Fig. 3 is anenlarged section upon the line 4.4 of Fig. 2, looking in the directionof the arrow, and showing how the hand lever is connected with the gate.

At 5, 6 are the gate posts and mounted upon the post 5 are stationaryhinge members 7 8. Revolubly connected with the latter are hinge members9, 10, the latter being secured to a cleat 11 by aid of bolts 12 orequivalent fastenings. A number of flat longitudinal bars 18 are pivotedto the cleat 11 and may be swung upwardly. These bars 13 are connectedby aid of cleats 14, 15 secured thereto by aid of bolts 14*, 15 so as toallow the outer or free end of the gate to be raised. At 16 is anotherbar which is connected by a bolt 17 with the cleat 11 and extendsdiagonally upward across the bars 18. The outer or free end of the bar16 is provided with a bolt 18 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 509,765.

pivotally connected to the latter is a hand lever 19 which carries twoclamping members 20, 21 secured to it by aid of bolts 22, 23. Except forthe action of the hand lever 19 and the clamping members 20, 21, theouter or free end of the gate normally rests upon the ground, and whenraised tends to drop back into its normal position-that is, the gatenormally tends to rest upon the ground. When, however, the gate israised as indicated in Fig. 1, the clamping members 20, 21 slidebackwardly toward the left according to Fig. 2, and continue thismovement until they grip against the top and bottom edges of the upperbar 13. As the outer or free end of the gate is raised higher andhigher, the clamps 20,21 move progressively to the left according toFig. 1. When, however, the gate is released the outer or free end (rightof Fig. 2) can not descend but remains in the air. This is because thedescent of the end of the gate thus raised would mean the travel of thebars 16 toward the top of the cleat 15, and this is prevented by thegripping action of the members 20, 21. When, however, the hand lever 19is turned slightly in a clockwise direction according to Figs. 1 and 2,or what amounts to the same thing, is given a gentle jerk or jar, so asto turn it slightly in the direction indicated, the clamping members 20,21 slip along the edges of the bars 13 and the gate descends withoutshock; this especially if the operator keeps his hand upon the handlever 19.

The operation of my device is as follows: The gate being substantiallyhorizontal, as indicated in Fig. 1, it is free to swing. if. however, itbe desired to raise the gate either for the purpose of clearing the post6 or for any other purpose, the operator merely grasps the outer or freeend of the gate (right of Figs. 1 and 2) and raises this end upwardly asindicated in Fig. 2. The gate may now be turned upon its hinges.Whenever it is desired to lower the gate, either to a horizontal levelor to the ground, the operator simply manipulates the hand lever 19 andin this manner allows the outer or free end of the gate to descend asmuch as is desired.

There is a peculiar advantage in using single pins 12 for the purposeabove indicated. That is to say, the two horizontal bars 13, 13 at thetop and bottom of the gate are so mounted upon the two pins 12 as to befree to swing when actuated by hand and this arrangement not onlyiallowsthe requisite distortion of the gate, as indicated in Fig. 2, but alsomaintains the hinges 9, 10 in their strictly horizontal positions and inixed relation to the cleats 11. The hinges are thus always maintainedhorizontal although the horizontal gate bars'are free to swing in avertical plane.

While for convenience I, showv a gate made practicallyiout of Wood, I donot limit my, self to this precise construction, as obviously the same;principlesmay be applied to gates madeof metal,.gas pipe, and variousother in aterials; :NeitheIm do 1 limit myself to the, particularconstruction shown, as reasonable changes maysbe .macle therein without.departingfrom the spirit of my invention. Having, thus, described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a gate, the. combination of alcleat, bars pivotally connectedtherewith, connections between said. barstfor the purpose of maintainingthem in a predetermined working relation, an additional bar pivotallyconnected with said cleat and adapted to swing relatively. to otherparts of the gate, a hand lever pivotally connected with saidlast-mentioned-bar and-movable in one direction by the end thrust ofsaid last-mentioned bar,

and clamping members pivotally mounted upon ,saidhand lever. anddisposed-upon vop-- posite sidesv of one aof said firstementioned bars.for the purpose of gripping; the latter so as to support-the weightofthe gatewhenea severv said hand-lever is thus actuated. Intestimony":whereoi I have signed my: name; to this speoificationin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses; 1 v

EUGENE STEBBINGS Vitnessesa- J. GHSANDISON, J. N.

